terms & conditions: The fine print to an anti-racist society
Written to mirror a legal document, Dr. Kiara Butler asks readers to agree to the terms and conditions of her newest book by coming along on her anti-racist journey before inviting deep and intentional reflection through the accompanying workbook.
The catch…
Readers have no idea what they are agreeing to. Luckily, QR codes are hidden throughout each chapter, providing readers with critical takeaways within the fine print.
You should read this book if:
You are just beginning your anti-racist journey.
You are unaware of how you and others contribute to white supremacy.
You have implicitly or explicitly accepted the terms and conditions of our society.
You seek authentic voice and honest accounts of the experiences of a queer, same-gender-loving, Black woman navigating systems of oppression.
You seek to deepen your understanding of how racism and other systems of oppression operate within the United States.
You seek to incorporate anti-racism into your personal and/or professional life.
You seek to hold yourself accountable in creating an anti-racist society.
methodology
Be prepared for Dr. Kiara Butler to address topics not generally discussed within our personal and professional lives. Each chapter begins with an open letter and is grounded in the methodology of the PERM cultural competence Framework, which focuses on four dimensions: power, empathy, relationships, and mindset.
reader reviews
Dr. David Johns, Executive Director, National Black Justice Coalition
"Dr. Butler’s Terms & Conditions: The Fine Print to an Anti-Racist Society is a gift, it’s a personal offering of intimate parts of who she is and a blueprint for anyone seeking to live as an anti-racist. The book is a gift—it’s a love offering. Readers will be struck by how much of her story Dr. Butler shares to make clear how democratic systems and institutions like social welfare systems, public schools, and the prison and health industrial complexes work exactly as they were designed. Dr. Butler’s PERM Cultural Competence Framework supports anyone willing to do the work to read, recognize, and respond to anti-racist opportunities to be subversive and to use ones privilege to upend systemic oppression, marginalization, and mistreatment. I encourage everyone to read this book, especially those responsible for supporting the learning and development of children, youth, and young adults."
Dr. celeste bowler, assistant superintendent, east providence school district
"The text is honest, at times raw, and has strong author vulnerability. The intersection of her lived experiences within the context of systemic racism should really resonate with readers and cause the deniers, naysayers, or those who can’t acknowledge white privilege and white fear to pause and reflect. That’s what sets this book apart from others. It’s also how she writes about her experiences; sometimes it’s strictly narrative form and other times it seems like poetry. Autobiographical-extremely powerful!"
Molly Cohen, education strategist
"Even knowing that "the inexplicable truth is that society doesn't view our tears and feelings of anguish in the same way as white people's," Dr. Butler has chosen to unflinchingly share her own story in order to provide an accessible framework for challenging racist oppression in daily American society. Whether it's applying for food stamps, withdrawing money to buy her first home, or reflecting on family trauma, Dr. Butler uses her personal stories to deftly walk readers through the work of interrogating their own complicity in upholding these subtle and pervasive oppressive cultural norms. Through integrating expertise and extensive research with personal vulnerability, Terms & Conditions offers a thorough guide with particular value for white people who are seeking to begin or continue to challenge their own role in upholding systemic oppression."